Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-01-30

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

30 JANUARY

2001 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO IRAN MEETS WITH CHAIRMAN OF IRANIAN

[03] TURKEY-GREECE JOINT SEMINAR ON EU

[04] U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE

[05] PRESIDENT SEZER CONDEMNS RATIFICATION OF RESOLUTION

[06] ROULEAU, FORMER FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY:

[07] HEALTH MINISTER DURMUS SENDS A 20-MEMBER MEDICAL TEAM TO INDIA

[08] SPANISH RED CROSS DONATES FOUR BLOODMOBILES TO TURKISH RED CRESCENT

[09] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''TURKEY WILL DEFINITELY BECOME A DEMOCRATIC

[10] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI: ''APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION

[11] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SHVARDNADZE RECEIVES DEPUTY PREMIER BAHCELI

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

DID ADAM AND EVE LIVE IN SAMSUN?
Michael Sanders, an outstanding American theology scientist, claimed that the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve lived was located close to northern Samsun province. Sanders said they reached this outcome after detailed evaluation of the satellite photographs of NASA.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

ALARM FOR AUTOMOBILES LOADED WITH BOMBS
Istanbul Police Organization is searching for two automobiles loaded with bombs. Officials said that on a tip-off, the police is searching for one automobile which is registered in Izmir traffic and one automobile which is registered in Ankara traffic, both of which were full of bombs. The officials said that upon this tip-off, all the security units in Istanbul were put on alert and were ordered to stop these automobiles and capture the persons in the automobiles.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

TURKISH RESCUE TEAMS PRAISED BY FOREIGN NEWS AGENCIES
The Turkish rescue teams who are participating in the search and rescue efforts in India, were praised by the foreign news agencies. The agencies said that the Turkish rescue teams who are the first ones that arrived in the quake-stricken area in India, were equipped with modern rescue equipments. The foreign news agencies stressed that the Turkish teams were the most experienced ones among other teams due to their efforts in the devastating earthquakes that hit the Marmara region and Duzce province two years ago.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

KUTAN TO VISIT ECEVIT
The Virtue Party (FP) Chairmanship Council held a meeting under the chairmanship of FP leader Recai Kutan which lasted for two and a half hours. Following the meeting, Kutan told reporters that he has applied to get an appointment from Premier Bulent Ecevit to debate the amendment to parliamentary by-laws. Kutan noted that he can meet with Ecevit today or tomorrow.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

COMPREHENSIVE COOPERATION BETWEEN GEORGIA AND TURKEY
The cooperation between Georgia and Turkey strengthened during the official visit of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze. An agreement on cooperation in defense industry was signed and the presidents of both countries also signed a joint declaration foreseeing cooperation in every field.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

TURKISH BUSINESSMEN DUE TO FRANCE
Turkish lobby intensifies efforts for the cancellation of the resolution on the so-called genocide on the Armenians which was adopted by the French parliament. A delegation of businessmen headed by Aldo Kaslowski, the chairman of the Turkish-French Business Council, will go to France today. The delegation will exert efforts to take the support of the French business world to ensure the resolution be sent to the French Constitutional Court to be cancelled.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

FP'S EYE ON CLOSURE CASE
The Constitutional Court will hear the closure case of the Virtue Party (FP) today. The Constitutional Court will decide whether or not the video- cassettes about the FP Congress held on May 14, 2000 can be considered as evidence in the FP closure case.

[02] TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO IRAN MEETS WITH CHAIRMAN OF IRANIAN

Prior to the visit of Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz to Iran, Morali held a meeting with Mirdamadi.

Morali said that the Turkish government wants to improve its political and parliamentary relations with Iran and requested that the inter- parliamentary friendship group become more efficient.

Requesting the two countries benefit from their potential to improve the cooperation, Morali called for the promotion of scientific, cultural, educational cooperation and cooperation of the press.

Mirdamadi said that Turkey and Iran have political will to improve bilateral relations, adding that this will will help further improve relations in every field.

-NORDOFF-ROBBINS MUSIC THERAPY FOUNDATION TO
GIVE MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD TO ARIF MARDIN
NEW YORK - Arif Mardin, a prominent music producer living in the U.S., will receive The man of the Year Award given by the Nordoff- Robbins Music Therapy Foundation.

It was previously stated that Arif Mardin would also receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and Trustees Award given by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the U.S.

Mardin said he was glad that he was given both awards, adding that Phil Collins, prominent producer David Foster and Ahmet Ertegun, the co-chairman of Atlantic Records, had previously received the award of Nordoff-Robbins Foundation.

Mardin will receive the Trustees Award in a ceremony that will be held in Los Angeles on February 20.

This award is given to people who contributed to the music industry other than singing.

The ceremony of The Man of the Year Award will be held in New York on May 8.

Arif Mardin, who was born in Istanbul, emigrated to the U.S. in 1958. After graduating from the Berklee School of Music, he became the house producer and arranger with Atlantic Records.

Throughout his extensive career, Mardin has been responsible for overseeing myriad classic pop, R&B and jazz recordings. His discography runs the gamut from the Young Rascals' smash hit "Good Lovin'" and Aretha Franklin's classic "Respect," to more recent projects with Diana Ross, Barbara Streisand, Carly Simon, Patti Labelle and the Smashing Pumpkins.

Over the course of his 35-year career, he has accumulated six GRAMMYs, more than 40 gold and platinum records, and the immense respect of his peers.

-GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE SAYS TURKEY WAS FIRST COUNTRY
WHICH EXTENDED A HELPING HAND TO GEORGIA
ANKARA - Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said on Monday that Turkey was the first country which extended a helping hand to Georgia during its independence and democratization process.

Attending a working breakfast held at the Sheraton Hotel by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), Shevardnadze said that Turkey's support has continued since then.

Shevardnadze noted that such meetings which had earlier been held with Turkey were beneficial and that within this framework, the commercial relations with Turkey have developed.

Georgia is situated in the Silk Road and energy corridor, Shevardnadze stated, noting that this geography provides economic interests for Georgia.

Shevardnadze said that Turkey is the first giant business partner of Georgia and that the two countries should realize their economic potential.

Underlining that Kars-Tbilisi railway and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan projects are important, Shevardnadze said that the two countries have close cooperation in energy and transportation.

Shevardnadze pointed out that if the agreement on prevention of double taxation is signed soon, the commercial relations will be further improved.

There are almost 150 Turkish-Georgian business partners in Tbilisi, Shevardnadze said.

Shevardnadze noted that the commercial relations between the two countries have been accelerated since 1997.

Touching on the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Shevardnadze said that this cooperation is very important for the regional countries.

Shevardnadze stated that he had a very beneficial meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, adding that they reiterated that the bilateral relations were on the right track during this meeting.

-WOLFENSOHN, CHAIRMAN OF WORLD BANK, SAYS
TURKISH ECONOMY WILL REACH A BETTER SITUATION
DAVOS/ANKARA - James Wolfensohn, the chairman of the World Bank, said on Tuesday that Turkish economy started to overcome the crisis which occured in the end of the last year, adding that Turkish economy will reach a better situation.

Wolfensohn, who is currently in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, stressed that it was important to continue the structural reforms especially in the financial sector in order to maintain stability in the economy.

Wolfensohn added they extended the necessary assistance to back the structural reforms in Turkey and would continue to do so.

Noting that the coalition government was implementing successful policies, Wolfensohn said he was very pleased about his visit to Turkey last year.

Wolfensohn will attend an international conference in Turkey in May which will be held to attract more foreign investments to Turkey.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will organize this conference.

Wolfensohn, who had paid a three-day official visit to Turkey last year, held contacts in Ankara, Istanbul and eastern Malatya province.

The World Bank approved last year Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for Turkey for a three year period and had announced that the total loan that would be provided to Turkey could be around 5 billion U.S. dollars if the structural reforms were put into practice.

-RATIFICATION OF RESOLUTION ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS
-NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU:
-''WE WILL CONTINUE OUR DETERMINED ATTITUDE''
ANKARA - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said on Tuesday that Turkey will continue its determined attitude against France.

Evaluating the ratification of the resolution on the so-called genocide on the Armenians by French President Jacques Chirac, Cakmakoglu told reporters that the Alcatel company has not made an application after the satellite tender was cancelled.

Cakmakoglu said that his advisers have informed him about the news in the French newspapers which are about the uneasiness of the administrators of the company.

When asked how the ratification of the resolution will affect the following tenders, Cakmakoglu said, ''as I had said last week, we will continue our determined attitude by taking into consideration the interests of the country. Some French companies participate in the ongoing tender processes. Of course, the ratification of the resolution on the so-called genocide on the Armenians will be a determinant of our evaluations.''

Asked if such decisions continue to be taken because Turkey's sanctions are not sufficient, Cakmakoglu said, ''we think the sanctions are sufficient. Time will

show.''

-YASAR OKUYAN, MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURTITY TO MEET
WITH CHAIRMEN OF TURK-IS, HAK-IS, DISK AND TISK
ANKARA - Yasar Okuyan, Minister of Labour and Social Security, will meet on Wednesday with the chairmen of the Confederation of the Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is), Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), Confederation of Turkish Employers' Unions (TISK), and Confederation of Right Labour Unions (Hak-Is), to discuss the Draft Law on Labour Security.

Okuyan told A.A correspondent that he invited the chairmen to the Ministry in order to receive their views on the draft law.

Noting that they would try to reach a consensus on the draft law in these meetings, Okuyan said any possible deficiencies in the draft could be removed through compromise.

Okuyan added he believed that the draft law on Labour Security would be adopted within the framework of consensus reached by the concerned sides.

-ASSASINATION OF OKKAN, POLICE CHIEF OF DIYARBAKIR
-PHOTOGRAPHS OF 23 MEMBERS OF HEZBOLLAH ORGANIZATION
SENT TO PROVINCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENTS
DIYARBAKIR/SIVAS - Photographs of 23 members of terrorist Hezbollah organization were sent to all provincial security departments on Tuesday by the Directorate of Diyarbakir Security Department in connection with assasination of Police Chief Gaffar Okkan and five other policemen.

Sources told the A.A correspondent that identities of photographs of Hezbollah members who are believed to have been involved in the assasination were distributed to all provincial security departments.

Names of these Hezbollah members are Halil Duken, Burhan Kilic, Haydar Solmaz, Besir Celik, Mehmet Cicek, Nurullah Gulsever, Murat Alici, Mansur Cetinkaya, Yasin M. Aydin, Naim Altindag, Mehmet Gul Kinay, Adem Ceylan, Mehmet Fidanci, Murat Aktas, Hasan Sariagac, Huseyin Sariagac, Hasim Alabalik, Metin Ulsen, Sahin Ceribasi, Bedri Esmer, Ramazan Ozdemir, Recep Donuk and Idris Simsek.

Police Chief Gaffar Okkan and five other policemen were killed in an armed attack in southeastern province of Diyarbakir last week.

-GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE RECEIVES PREMIER ECEVIT
-ECEVIT: ''TURKEY AND GEORGIA HAVE VERY SPECIAL AND STRATEGICAL
RELATIONS''
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Tuesday that Turkey and Georgia have very special and strategical relations, adding, ''Georgia's problems are our problems.''

Prime Minister Ecevit visited Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze at the Sheraton Hotel in Ankara.

Speaking to journalists following the meeting which lasted for almost 20 minutes, Ecevit said that he was pleased with meeting with Shevardnadze in Ankara.

''We have very special and strategical relations with Georgia. Georgia's problems are our problems. Georgia's security is our security. We have held a very beneficial meeting,'' Ecevit said.

The Prime Minister said that they had discussed especially air, land and railway transportation.

Noting that Turkey was ready to take necessary steps in those issues in the shortest time frame, Ecevit said that Turkey actually fulfilled its responsibilities about those issues partially.

Stating that Shevardnadze and he had also discussed regional issues, Ecevit said that they had held a very beneficial meeting.

[03] TURKEY-GREECE JOINT SEMINAR ON EU

Releasing a statement, the Finance Ministry said on Tuesday, ''Turkey- Greece Committee for the EU held its meeting on February 28, 2000. Within framework of the Committee's works, a seminar was organized in Greek capital of Athens between July 17 and 21, 2000 on EU budget in Greece, economic and monetary union, and public finance. A chief finance inspector and four budget experts attended the seminar on behalf of Turkey.''

The statement added, ''the Committee convened for four times so far. A seminar will be organized between January 31 and February 2. An eight- member delegation from Greek Finance Ministry will be in attendance at the seminar in which issues such as preparation and implementation of budget, inspection of public expenditures, inspection of projects financed by EU funds, control of corruption and money laundry, value added tax (VAT) information exchange system and exports exception will be taken up.''

[04] U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE

De Soto who proceeded from Cyprus to Istanbul via Athens will meet with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

De Soto is expected to leave Turkey on Wednesday.

[05] PRESIDENT SEZER CONDEMNS RATIFICATION OF RESOLUTION

Releasing a statement, the Presidential Press Center quoted President as saying on Tuesday, ''as the French parliament refrained from carrying out a legislative work about its own history, it easily judged another country's history due to concerns about domestic policy by considering itself as a historian. This is nothing but an exemplary contradiction. Ratification of resolution on so-called genocide which contradicts with the Constitution of France, is unacceptable. The resolution is deprived of examination of the Constitutional Council. I condemn this development which will inevitably have negative impacts on relations between Turkey and France.''

[06] ROULEAU, FORMER FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY:

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Rouleau said that the parliaments did not have any role of assessing or judging the history.

Noting that relations between Turkey and France had been based on sound grounds, Rouleau said that he hoped relations would not be damaged in the future.

[07] HEALTH MINISTER DURMUS SENDS A 20-MEMBER MEDICAL TEAM TO INDIA

Releasing a statement, Durmus said on Tuesday that they informed Foreign Ministry on departure of the team for India.

Expressing his profound sorrow over death of thousands of people in the quake disaster, Durmus said that Turkey would do its utmost to assist India in healing the wounds of the disaster.

A massive earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale devastated western Gujarat state of India on Friday killing thousands of people.

[08] SPANISH RED CROSS DONATES FOUR BLOODMOBILES TO TURKISH RED CRESCENT

Rivero who is currently in Turkey to strengthen cooperation with Turkish Red Crescent, met with Red Crescent Chairman Ertan Gonen and other officials at Renda Palace in Ankara.

Gonen, during a speech, said that Spanish Red Cross had been helping Red Crescent in a modernization project and it recently decided to donate four bloodmobiles which are presently at the customs.

He also announced that International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation would donate seven bloodmobiles to Turkey.

Gonen said blood donation in Turkey was below the desired level and added that the latest donations will increase the donations.

[09] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''TURKEY WILL DEFINITELY BECOME A DEMOCRATIC

In an exclusive interview with the leading Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, Ecevit pointed to Turkey's strategic importance between Europe and Asia, and said that its membership would bring a new perspective to the EU.

Asahi Shimbun wrote that Turkey was the first Muslim country attending an EU summit in December of 1999. However, the newspaper said, certain western values such as abolishing death penalty and improving minority rights are the main conditions Turkey has to fulfill to start membership negotiations with the EU.

During the interview, Ecevit said that fulfilling these conditions was a priority for Turkey, and he indicated that Turkey started adopting Western values in the 19th century and the Turkish society acknowledged the need to adhere to these standards.

Elaborating on the death penalty, Ecevit said ''no executions took place in Turkey since 1984, and death penalty stopped in practice.''

He also pointed out that the new penal code prepared by the Justice Ministry's experts proposed life sentence instead of death penalty.

''Our candidacy status was a driving force for us to implement certain reforms,'' Ecevit said.

Dwelling on improving relations between Turkey and Greece, Ecevit said that Turkey's status as an EU candidate is also helping it develop relations with Greece,'' Ecevit told the newspaper.

Ecevit also pointed to the economic reforms that are necessary for EU membership, and said that the government was determined to carry out these structural changes in line with EU's demands.

[10] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI: ''APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION

Speaking to journalists, Izgi said that approval of the resolution at the French parliament can't blacken Turkey. ''Their attempt to put their blame on another country can't mean anything.''

When asked whether or not Turkey's efforts had been sufficient, Izgi said that insufficient works carried out by Turkey for years against the issue could be effective in taking such a decision by the French parliament.

Stressing that the issue could spread to other countries, Izgi said, ''from now on, we should explain to the world that Armenian genocide allegations are baseless.''

Recalling that a book had been prepared on basis of documents of countries like Russia, Britain and Germany, Izgi said that they would send the book in question to all relevant institutions and organizations and non- governmental organizations.

[11] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SHVARDNADZE RECEIVES DEPUTY PREMIER BAHCELI

Any statement was not released following the meeting which was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Ankara and lasted for almost 25 minutes.

Bahceli did not answer questions of journalists about ratification of resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians by French President Jacques Chirac.

Shevardnadze who continues his contacts in Ankara within framework of his official visit, received Turkish-Georgian Friendship Foundation members and Abkhazian people living in Turkey.

Shevardnadze will return to Georgia after wrapping his contacts the same day.

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